GMC/Cherolet 6.5 TD Cargo Van Question

[greg334]

OK I am looking for info from owners of GMC/Chevrolet 3500 CVs with 6.5 TD.

I have owned 6.5s and 6.2 in the past, all non turbo and all in ‘burbs. Great mileage and dependability, but they were not drive by wire engines.

So I would like to know what mileage do you get with your 6.5 TD CV.

Also any thing that someone should watch out for with the 6.5 TD?

Thanks in advance

 

[merkurfan]

I had a 6.5 turbo in my 96.5 GMC 1 ton dually cube van. Got 16 MPG out of it. That was a drive by wire truck however.

 

[Crazynuff]

I wouldn't want a 6.5 TD . They've had quite a few problems . Go to dieselplace.com and check the GM diesle engine forum archives . Like other engines some owners swear by the engines , some swear at them . Ford bought back a lot of trucks because of problems with the 6.0 powerstroke . GMC is going to make the Duramax available in vans soon if not already .

 

[greg334]

Thanks for the replies.

Murkerfan

If you got 16, I should expect better.

Crazynuff
Yep there are problems with the 6.5, never owned a drive by wire vehicle so I really don’t know what to expect. I know that the PCM unit on the pump fails because of heat build up, but other than that I just don’t know what to expect.

Thanks for the site link; I am going through it now. A lot of good info!

Every dealer I talked to said the same thing about ordering a CV with a Duramax, ‘I don’t know”. GM is not giving these guys any info.

 

[merkurfan]

There is a fix for the modual failure. When it fails extend the wires and mount it in a place where it has air floor to cool it. I did that to mine and NEVER had a problem.

I just went to a local dealership to try and by a 1 ton cargo van. The duramax is not expected out until late in the model year. I ended up leaving with a really nice used half ton pickup. Since I am no longer on the road a pickup will do the job for me just fine.

 

[greg334]

>There is a fix for the modual failure. When it fails extend
>the wires and mount it in a place where it has air floor to
>cool it. I did that to mine and NEVER had a problem.

Thanks for the confirmation. I really didn't know if I should go ahead and move the PCM or not. Now I will.

I can't see paying $400 for a heatsink and an extension cable. I can live with paying $100 or so for the cable, but not the heatsink when I have maybe a hudred pound of them sitting in my basement. The other nice thing is I now remember I have two DS4 IJ pumps with the modules on them in my shed.I traded them for a VR4 IJ pump, which goes on a VW. The pumps both had crap fuel run through them and the guts are a mess but the electronics are good.

So you got yourself a truck, wow I thought I was the only one to go to a dealer to look and drive away with something new.